Deserved win for King

King Of Aran has been a model of consistency for his owners the Don't Tell The Missus Syndicate and trainer Michael Grassick and he duly gained just the second win of his career coming out best in a terrific conclusion to the finale, the Dundalk On Facebook Handicap.

Without success since a maiden victory at Naas in August 2009, the victorious Val Royal gelding had to be brave here as himself and Lynott got 'up close and personal' in the closing stages. King Of Aran prevailed by a neck from Isabellareine in a contest where many could have done with better luck in running. Amazingly the first seven distances were a neck, a short head twice, a neck twice, a head and a neck.

Grassick summed-up things afterwards by saying: "He deserved to win as he has been knocking on the door and going up in the handicap as a result. We'll mix it with him – here and hurdling. He likes this surface and fast ground."

King Of Aran didn't go unbacked as he found 6/1 having been as big as 10s this morning.